08/10/2019
DIVE PHILIPPINES
Welcome to the World’s Best Diving Destination
Diving History
In the Philippines, the birth of sport diving is generally said to have taken place in Anilao, which is still a popular dive destination to this day. The pioneering Aquatropical Divers opened in 1966 and scuba tourism was born. That makes sport diving here one of the earliest founded anywhere on the globe. Since then, the sport has blossomed, expanding to areas like Puerto Galera and now pretty much all across the country. Divers used small traditional outriggers back then to get to the dive sites and many beach dive areas were found.
The Philippines was also at the forefront of the technical diving revolution in the mid 1990s. Puerto Galera, well placed logistically from a gas and equipment point of view and with deep water just off shore, was the starting point. Other dive centers followed soon after. Wreck diving meccas such as Coron Bay and Subic Bay opened up to tek. John Bennett took the world scuba depth record in 2001 off Puerto Galera. That put the Philippines on the radar of technical divers internationally.
Now, the Philippines still offers outriggers, but these are custom-made for diving. They are quite large and comfortable with plenty of room to relax, to walk around, to put dive and camera gear and to get dressed. These boats have modern safety features as well as toilets, small kitchens and covered cabins. And modern dive boats are being introduced.
While growing in spurts over the decades, the industry in the last ten years has seen phenomenal growth. Modern facilities and beautiful resorts combined with excellent multi-lingual training beckon divers from all over the world. Many local guides are highly certified, excellent marine life spotters and extremely qualified divemasters and instructors.
Geography
There’s a saying that the Philippines “has it all” and this is certainly true above the sea (as well as below). Northern terraced mountains give way to steamy southern rainforest. In many parts of the country rice fields sit in the shadow of volcanic cones (some still active). Their past eruptions have created some extremely fertile regions making farming popular for nearly half of the Philippine land. And the Philippines boasts over 7,000 islands (official count is 7,107) and some stunning, coconut covered atolls. 2,000 of the isles in the Philippines have inhabitants. In contrast, it is said 2,500 don’t have names. Luzon and Mindanao are the largest islands making up two-thirds of the country’s landmass. 66% of the country’s land is found on these two islands. In fact, most of the islands here were formed from past and current volcanic and tectonic activity. The Philippines is a huge archipelago stretching 1,850 kilometers (1,150 mi) from the 15th to the 20th parallels north latitude. Landmass is 300,000 square kilometers (115,831 sq mi).
Climate
There are two seasons in the country, the wet season and the dry season, based upon the amount of rainfall. This is dependent as well on your location in the country. The average year-round temperature measured from all the weather stations in the Philippines, except Baguio City, is 26.6 °C (79.9 °F). Cooler days are usually felt in the month of January with temperatureaveraging at 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) and the warmest days, in the month of May with a mean 28.3 °C (82.9 °F). Dry season is November into June and this is considered the best time
to visit for diving, although diving can be done year ‘round. In fact, during rainy season in places like The Visayas, the sea flattens out and makes it easy to get to most any site. The rains are dictated by the amihan (northeast monsoon) and the hagabat (southwest monsoon). The southwest monsoon sometimes brings winds with it and that can make some sites inaccessible, so check with your dive operator about his particular region and how it is affected. The Philippines are in the typhoon belt and occasionally get storms that blow across the western Pacific. Weather in the Philippines is monitored and managed by the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Language & Culture
Language - A total of 182 native languages are spoken in the country and four languages have been classified as extinct. There are 13 indigenous languages with at least one million native speakers: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Coastal Bikol, Pangasinan, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kinaray-a, and Tausug. One or more is spoken natively by more than 90% of the population.
The good news for visitors is that English is also very widely spoken. So communication in the Philippines is normally very easy. Menus are in English at restaurants and hotels and stores have English signage and English-speaking staff. Thus, the Philippines is considered one of the most visitor-friendly countries in Asia.
Culture - The Philippine culture is famous worldwide for its colorful dances, songs and tasty cuisine. The culture of the Philippines has been heavily influenced by both Asian and Western cultures. The Philippines was first settled by Melanesians. Today, few in numbers, they preserve the traditional way of life and culture. After them, Austronesians, or MalayoPolynesians, arrived on the islands. Today the Austronesian culture is very evident in the ethnicity, language, food, dance and almost every aspect of the culture. While dance, cinema, music and indigenous art are strong, travellers are most likely to encounter the many Filipino food dishes. Rice is a staple. Popular dishes such as adobo (a meat stew made from either pork or chicken), lumpia (meat or vegetable rolls), pancit (a noodle dish), and lechón (roasted pig) are popularly served and should be experienced. Also, some spicy dishes, like the ceviche called the “Bicol Express” are not to be missed by seafood lovers. The lively culture and cuisine of the
Philippines add to any holiday visit.
The People - According to the 2010 Census, there were 92,337,852 in the
Philippines and about 10 million living outside the Philippines. The Filipino identity, with its Austronesian roots, was developed with Malay, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and American influences. Today, this very eclectic culture creates a welcoming and friendly people. Over 80% of the Philippines is Catholic.
The name Filipino was derived from the term "Las Islas Filipinas" ("the Philippine Islands"). Many Filipinos refer to themselves as "Pinoy" for a man or "Pinay" for a lady. This is slang formed by taking the last four letters of "Filipino" and adding the Y.
For visitors, Filipinos offer a very interesting and proud culture that they are happy, even eager, to share. This natural hospitality makes visitors return frequently, whether it be for diving or just for a pleasant holiday.
Visitors will find a great range of education and wealth in this country. Education is becoming a priority in order to stem poverty and improve the standard of living of all Filipinos.
Practicalities
Getting There - Manila and Cebu City are the major international gateway cities to the Philippines. They host major and lesser airlines coming from all Asia airports, the Far East, Australia, the USA and Guam. Philippine Airlines (PAL) is pretty much considered the country’s national airline with a route network that spans 35 foreign cities and 29 domestic points.
Getting Around - There are car rental companies but for visitors using local transport is usually the best option. Public transportation is cheap and one can avoid trying to fit in with the local driving style. One can take tricycles and taxis to local eateries and stores. For long coastal trips to new dive destinations, there are experienced drivers in spacious, air-con cars and vans are available.
For getting from a major air hub to your destination in country, there are
numerous daily flights to Philippine cities and islands.
For divers, Philippine Airlines is diver friendly with allowances for dive gear.
Not all destinations have daily flights. Schedules and routes frequently change, so plan ahead, especially during peak seasons like Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter and Philippine summer vacation (April, May).
Visas - Nationals from 156 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Philippines may enter the Philippines receiving a Tourist Visa upon arrival. This allows for a maximum of thirty (30) days, provided these entry regulations are met:
1) your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of stay in The Philippines
2) you present a return or outward bound ticket to your country of origin or to a next country of destination. A few countries have special arrangements allowing for longer stays. Chinese Nationals, require a special permit. If planning to stay longer, extensions must be arranged with the Bureau of Immigration. Tourist visas from 7 to 59 days are also available at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in some countries. For your particular country/nationality see:
www.dfa.gov.ph/consularservices/visa-information
Customs - For the latest in passenger guidelines for Customs regulations and Duty-Free allowance, visit the website of Philippines Bureau of Customs at:
www.customs.gov.ph
Clothing - It is generally warm and tropical in the Philippines, especially for destinations that divers like to visit. So just wear light breathable clothes and comfortable shoes. Sandals or jogging shoes work well for shopping and beach walking. Wide-brimmed hats are handy when island hopping and out on dive boats. Wear beach attire only around the resorts. Dress as you would at home when away from the tourist hotels. Filipinos place a high priority on appearance. Wearing appropriate clothing to formal occasions and when visiting places of worship is appreciated.
Accommodations - Once considered a budget destination, that has all changed in the past couple of decades. Small, reasonable hotels are still available but the level of service and rooms has risen to five-star in many Philippine destinations. Boutique hotels catering especially to divers with excellent international fusion
cuisine, spas, spacious rooms and reliable and fast internet can now be found in many of the popular dive destinations. One can truly pick the place for any travel budget.
Safety & Security - Negative news abroad sells and sadly has an impact on one’s perception of safety in the Philippines. However, incidents are rare. Overall the Philippines is a safe country for travellers. Visitors, however, should be aware that there continues to be a risk of politically motivated violence in parts of the country. Travel to some portions of Mindanao, in the Southern Philippines, should therefore be avoided. In particular: Sulu archipelago, Basilan, Lanao del Sur / Norte, North Cotabato, Maquindanao and parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Visitors should also use common sense: don’t get involved with drugs or drinking or go places you are unfamiliar with late at night. Do not argue or criticize and avoid public scenes. If needed, the emergency number is 117.
Money - The Philippine currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP). It is divided up in 100 Centavos. The US Dollar is the most recognized foreign currency and can be used for some transactions. Upon internationally arriving in Manila, the airport offers foreign exchange counters. Banks are open from 9 am- 3 p.m., M-F 5 days-a-week.
Automatic Teller Machines are available in the major cities. Money changers are open nearly 24 hours in the big cities. Credit cards are widely accepted, sometimes with a 3 - 3.5% a charge. A passport or similar I.D. may be required.
Tipping - Tips of 10% of the billing amount are common practice. Whether or not to tip is a personal decision. Taxi drivers may try to get their cut by saying they have no change. In most restaurants and hotels, a 10% service charge may be included.
Health - No immunization is needed for The Philippines. Yellow fever vaccination is required if you come from infected areas. Ask your doctor for advice about malaria prophylaxis. It is recommended only for a few isolated islands. Dengue fever is prevalent in some dive regions as well so mosquito repellent is recommended.
Be wise and carry health insurance and a small medical kit with the mosquito repellant. The more you go off the beaten track, the more necessary it is to take additional precautions. Hospitals are available in Manila, Puerto Princesa and Cebu. Ladies should bring sanitary supplies as usually only “napkins” are available locally. Drinking bottled water is also advised as many areas do not have potable water supplies. Cowboy, Matapalay Market onions (p-22)
Electricity - Power is generally 220 Volts, 60 Hz. and luxury hotels in Manila and Cebu may have 110 Volts. For divers, laptops, tablets, camera chargers, smart phones, etc, usually can be used in the Philippines, as in most other countries of the world. Look for the following statement on the charger: 'INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz'. The actual wall female plugs can vary from the US style two flat pins to the flat pins with a round ground.
And sometime a Type C socket with round pins is found. You will need an adapter for European chargers. Power fluctuations are less frequent these days, however, still common in The Philippines. Blackouts occasionally do occur, so pack a flashlight.
Many dive centers have camera rooms with charging areas as do diving liveaboards. In most resorts there are plenty of sockets in the rooms to charge
camera and strobe batteries and work on the laptop editing photos.
Shopping - A visit to a busy and bustling Shopping Mall like Mall of Asia, Ayala Center, SM Megamall, Shangri-La Plaza or Greenhills Shopping Center is worth the experience. Opening hours are normally 10 am-8 pm. Prices are set and most have camera and/or electronics stores in case an extra SD card or power adapter is Evening market needed. Visiting public markets is fun and there is usually one in every village great and small. Be prepared to bargain in these places. Look for wooden carvings, tribal items, religious figures, dried fruits, musical instruments and woven pineapple/banana fabrics and baskets.
Communication -
There are 3 major mobile phone providers: Globe, Smart and Suncellular. One can get a SIM card and go prepaid. One can also use one’s phone as a mobile hotspot for WiFi. All are available in cities and major tourist places such as
Boracay Island, Mactan Island (Cebu), Puerto Galera (Mindoro Or.), Panglao Island (Bohol) and some places in Palawan. Internet cafés are around but slowly disappearing as cell phones get more powerful. Call for directory assistance in Manila 114 or 112 in the provinces.
Time - Local time is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) + 8 throughout the Philippines.
Travel Insurance - It is smart to make buying a general travel insurance policy a part of the travel plan before departure. Generally liabilities and insurance coverages are basic and limited in the Philippines. For divers, DAN diving insurance has a travel option and your local insurance provider may also offer travel insurance through your home policy.
Divers come to the Philippines for a number of reasons but tops on the list are three items.
First, they come for dive training. This country has such a variety of sunken seascapes, war wrecks and secluded bays that offer it all, from intro diving, to basic certification to specialty dives (like wreck diving, rescue and deep diving) to
instructor training and special tek training can all be done here.
Secondly, divers also come to see a vast array of macro creatures. These are highly unusual fish, invertebrates like shrimps and crabs and even odd cephalopods like mimic octopus and blue-ring octopus or various frogfish species. Nowhere in the world but in this Coral Triangle can these creatures be seen in such abundance. It has evolved into a specialty and highly-trained divemasters have sharp eyes that can spot the proper habitat and pick these creatures out. Some make amazingly colorful and unusual photographs.
Thirdly, divers come here just to enjoy the diversity of the reefs and marine life, relax in the fine facilities and enjoy the amenities and cuisines and friendliness of the Filipinos.
Diving Summary
Visibility – Depending on the location and the weather, visibility can range from 15-150 ft. (5-45m). Water is generally clear and warm in most locales.
Water Temperature – The Philippines has nice warm water, varying between 23-30°C/73-86°F depending on the area and season.
Bring - Anywhere from a rash guard to 3mm wetsuit usually covers every situation. If weight of luggage is a problem, most dive operations have equipment for rent and most dive shops have a decent selection of mask/fins/snorkel should you want to buy your gear upon arrival.
Check ahead and reserve your gear.
Weather – You can dive year-round in the Philippines, but there are three distinct seasons that affect dive conditions. December through March is the northeast monsoon that can bring strong winds. April through June is usually dry with warm days and little wind. July through November is the southwest monsoon, which is wet but the water is warm. Air temperatures average 25-32°C/78-90°F with high relative humidity.
Courses – With walls, currents and wrecks,
it’s a good idea to take Deep Diver, Drift Diver and/or Wreck Diver courses.
Technical diving on the deep wrecks requires special training. Many dive centers offer NITROX certification now and that opens up diving in special situations, like extending bottom times on deeper wrecks or at deep water cleaning stations. The Philippines is one of the most active dive training countries in the world.
The Philippines has thousands of dives to choose from but some stand out. Here are some of the highlight dives:
Beach Dive – It is hard to beat the walk-in dive at Busuanga’s Dimakya Island. Sea turtles, swirling jacks and dugongs are always a possibility. Plus the macro critters are diverse and abundant.
Shark Dive – While Oslob has consistent whale shark action, Monad Shoal at Malapascua Island is the one place in the world where divers consistently see thresher sharks at cleaning stations.
Reef Dive – The Black Forest at Balicasag is a haven for hundreds of sea turtles of all sizes and ages and a tornado of bigeye jacks.
Marine Park Dive – Tubbataha is the premier marine park in this country. Isolated far out to sea, it can only be visited during calm periods when the sea is flat. Big marine life like manta rays and hammerhead sharks can be found along sheer, coral-covered dropoffs.
WWII Wreck Dive - The Okikawa Maru lies in a currenty area that keeps the ship bathed in water movement. So the coral growth is lush. The bow is mangled but holds a forest of black coral.
Macro Dive - The Rockpile in Dauin has small steel pyramids, cars, and steel crates and is home to many critters like frogfish, ghost pipefish, spiny seahorses and even harlequin shrimp. Sandy and full of tiny surprises.
The Best Dives
Gorgonian sea fans Above and below the Philippines has an amazing variety of landscapes, seascapes, creatures and people to photograph. Taking a camera along should certainly be part of any Philippines holiday.
For divers, look for shops that offer courses like the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer and perhaps combine that with the Coral Reef Conservation and/or Fish Identification to be able to understand and to capture the beauty of the marine life in these waters.
There are not many high end camera stores outside of Manila. For serious photographers, it is best to bring everything needed including back-up batteries and chargers. If one edits while traveling, bring a laptop as well. Using an app like Vivid-Pix also aids achieving proper color in post production editing.
GoPro cameras are quite popular now with many travelling divers. Using a dedicated color filter gives best results with GoPro. Most boats now have camera freshwater buckets and most dive shops have dedicated camera rinse areas too.
SSI and PADI are especially well-represented here. To take courses during a dive holiday, check ahead as the better dive centers offer course in many languages and a broad range of specialties.
Fitness - Diving properly and safely requires a certain good fitness level. Proper fitness will reduce risk of injury and accident. Remember, divers operate in a water world somewhat foreign to humans. Take some time to start a fitness routine prior to a dive trip, get a medical check-up and remember to stay hydrated and rested while on a dive holiday.
One can also help prevent things like cramping by doing yoga and other stretching moves. Many hotel spas in the Philippines now offer yoga courses and other such light fitness programs that may fit well with a diving regimen.
Spas also offer relaxing massages that soothe sore muscles after a long dive day
Night Dive at Padre Burgos pier is feeling happy in Maasin, Southern Leyte.
October 2 at 5:02 PM ·
Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Southern Leyte Philippines, which is an "An Excerpt from Diving and Snorkeling Guide to the Philippine" - by Tim Rock
(pages 74-79)
Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte, Philippines
Sogod Bay is a large bay in the southern part of Leyte Island and an extension of the Bohol Sea. It is fully surrounded by the province of Southern Leyte. The municipality of Sogod is located at the head of the bay so the bay has that moniker. For divers, the waters are home to a profusion of beautiful marine life. As it is a bit off the beaten diver path in the Philippines, the reefs are considered to be uncrowded with spots waiting to be found and explored. It is known for having some great macro sites with lots of rare and unusual invertebrates and small fish like tiny pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, frogfish and pipefish to turtles, Napoleon wrasses and reef sharks. The bay has also recently been the focus of swimming with the biggest of fish as whale sharks are known to seasonally frequent the area. The bay has coral gardens, steep dropoffs, cascading shelves and walls, as well as black sand, which is what macro buffs seek for the prolific macro life.
Local dive resorts are dedicated to marine conservation and have sponsored marine protected areas (MPAs) throughout Sogod Bay. The bio-diversity of the marine ecosystem offers visitors an unforgettable and unique experience.
Divers will find certified PADI instructors and the knowledgeable Filipino divemasters. Over 25 unspoiled dive sites are now regularly dived. Underwater photographers and videographers are welcomed. For instance, at Sogod Bay Resort, within ten to thirty minutes of the resort there are over 20 dive sites, including some interesting wide angle spots. Divers get to this area a couple of ways and there is some driving and flying involved. International flights can arrive at both Manila and Cebu.
There are a number of ferry services from Cebu to Leyte. Contact your resort to check the schedule of ferries as they can change seasonally and without notice. Usually transfers by car from Leyte ferry terminals in Bato, Hilongos, Ormoc or Maasin can be made. From Manila, a number of flights are available to Tacloban, Leyte, (TAC) pretty much daily. From Tacloban to most dive areas by car then takes about three hours. From Bohol, ferries are available from Ubay, Bohol, to Bato and Hilongos in Leyte. The land transfer from Maasin then takes around 45 minutes.
Not all operators take part in the reef restoration and marine preserve programs. Those who do plant and grow live corals on the reefs. They do this work with the help of the local marine biologists. Ask as they allow guest divers to help so divers can give back to Mother Ocean. Leyte is a big area and there are parks, beaches and waterfalls for people to visit if not just there for diving. Padre Burgos town is the jump-off point because of its concentration of dive shops and lodging facilities. Check Napantao Marine Protected Area sanctuary.
34) Napantao MPA
Icons:
Location: Near San Francisco town
Depth: 10-140+ ft. (3-40+m)
Napantao is the oldest marine protected area in Sogod bay. Coral Cay Conservation is based in the area and as a result, there is not a lot of illegal fishing in the sanctuary. It is said to be one of the top 10 wall dives in South East Asia. Napantao is a fantastic wall dive starting at around 45 ft. (13m) and drops down past safe diving limits to 160 ft. (50m). Currents can be a bit tricky but this is a plus as when currents are strong pelagic fishes are often seen. Tuna, wahoo, devil rays, rainbow runners and midnight snappers all school in the area and can be seen with the fusilier masses in the blue water. The wall is covered with red soft corals gorgonian fans and green Tubastrea sp. tree corals that open their polyps when the currents are strong for a burst of reef color.
The best time to dive Napantao is mid morning. The colors can be tremendously nice with the right sunlight on the upper reef. There are two walls with the major one shaped like a horseshoe. It has a big and deep crack past 140 ft. (42m) full of sweetlips and spotted groupers. It is normally dived with the prevailing current and divers zig-zag up the wall. At the top of the wall there is an abundance of
marine life and hard and soft coral. Look for the occasional whitetip reef sharks in the limestone caves. There’s also a second almost miniwall that is also very colorful and drops down deep. Look for batfish schools and hiding frogfish on this
wall. Divers can do both walls in one dive if the current is strong. Napantao is a must to dive when visiting Sogod Bay.
35) Padre Burgos Pier
Icons:
Location: Padre Burgos
Town Pier
Depth: 15-20 ft. (4-5m)
The Padre Burgos Pier is a popular night dive in shallow water and local operators bill it as “the ultimate night dive”. Photographers will love it as there are seahorses, frogfish, nudibranchs, eels, octopi, stargazers, razorfish and many types of crabs calling the pier home.
Padre Burgos jetty or pier is one of the best night dives in the Philippines but day dives can also be productive. Located in the town of Padre Burgos, divers can use the pier on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights and by day when not
in use by larger ships.
Three dive operators in the area dive this site on a regular basis. Maximum depth is around 15 to 20 ft. (5m) and visibility is good and 50-70 ft. (15-22m). Things to see include stargazers by night and the tiny blue-ringed octopus to flying gurnards scurrying along the bottom. It is a good site for nudibranch lovers as well. A true muck dive, the pier has its share of junk and trash but these seem to go hand-in-hand with the habitat for the odd and unusual.
Macro is the key here but the many pillars under the jetty let light in for wide angle work for the creative shooter. They are covered in soft corals and ascidians. The sandy area around the jetty has sand dwellers like stargazers and snake eels and ubiquitous lionfish.
36) Tangkaan MPA
Icons:
Location: South of Padre Burgos
Depth: 10-100 ft. (3-30m)
Tangkaan is situated on a peninsula south of Padre Burgos. It has both a wall dive and a angled coral slope. It drops down to about 100 ft. (30m). There are
plenty of barrel sponges, green tree corals and big tables corals as well a number of big gorgonian fans. There is an abundance of marine life along the wall and reef. Black frogfish are often seen perched on the forest green tubastrea coral trees. Divers see macro life like pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs and larger critters like batfish, turtles and the occasional whale shark. Tankaan is a marine protected area.
Nearby Medicare North and South have been sanctuaries for over five years, named from their adjacent position to the Padre Burgos medicare facility.
37) Turtle Rock
Icons:
Location: South of Padre Burgos
Depth: 10-100 ft. (3-27m)
Turtle rock is a spectacular dive site. Situated on the outside of Sogod bay on the peninsular of Tankaan. It has four large rock formations starting at 45 ft. (13m) and dropping down to around 130 ft. (40m). On the second rock there is a massive Gorgonian fan. In the sand around the rocks is a large garden eel colony. Midnight snappers, longnose emperors and unicornfish abound and the hard corals are outstanding.
38) Sun-ok
Icons:
Location: Sun-ok, Pintuyan
Depth: 10-100 ft. (3-27m)
Known locally as Ihotiki, whale sharks are found in Sogod Bay from November to April. Whale sharks annually gather at the southeast tip of Sogod Bay at a place called Sunok in the southern part of the bay. While encounters are never guaranteed, if a diver stays for at least a week chances increase of seeing one or
more whale sharks.
Sunok is also a fish sanctuary and dive site an hour banca ride from Padre Burgos (eastward across the bay about 13 kms.) Sunok Point has a wall similar to a terrace that drops down to 65ft (20m,) then, at the end, falls away deeper. One side of the terrace is a sloping coral reef with beautiful soft corals, fans and barrel sponges. The currenty other side of the terrace is a nice wall with huge fans, sea whips, Napoleons and reef sharks.
Shared Oct 2, 2019
About the author (2nd photo below):
Tim Rock has written over 50 books about Asia-Pacific diving
destinations. He is an internationally published photojournalist, a Getty Images Lonely Planet Collection photographer and frequent visitor to the Philippines. He uses Nikon, Ikelite and Aquatica photographic equipment.
Front Cover Photo by © Jerome Kim on 1st photo below
Source: An Excerpt extracted from Diving and Snorkeling Guide to The Philippines by TIM ROCK published on April 20, 2016 @https://www.philippinetourismusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Dive-Guide-to-the-Philippines-April-20-2016.pdf
CEBU
Malapascua P. 94
53) Chocolate Isl. P. 95
54) Gato Island P. 96
55) North Point P. 98
56) Lapus Pinnacle P. 98
57) Bantigue. P. 99
58) The Sand Patch P. 100 Thresher sharks P. 101
59) Monad Shoal P. 102
Malapascua Wrecks P. 104
Mactan & Cebu P. 106
60) Tambuli Fish Feeding Station P. 107
61) Kon Tiki Reef P. 107
62) Marigondon P. 108
Moalboal P. 110
63) Copton Point P. 111
64) Panagsama Beach
House Reef P. 111
65) Pescador Isl. P. 112
66) Tongo Point P. 113
67) Talisay Wall P. 113
NEGROS ISLAND
Dauin/Dumaguette P. 114
68) Mainit P. 117
69) Yapak P. 117
70) Pura Vida House Reef P. 118
71) Bonnet’s Corner P. 118
72) Banca Wreck P. 119
73) The Car Wreck P. 120
74) Dauin N & S P. 121
75) Masaplod Norte Sanctuary P. 122
76) Rock Pile P. 124
77) Masaplod Norte Sanctuary P. 125
78) Apo Island P. 126
Romblon P. 80
39) Alad Island and Sanctuary P. 81
40) Three P House P. 83
41) Lunas P. 84
42) Magnificat P. 85
43) Agpanabat Marine Sanctuary P. 86
44) Logbon Coral Canyon P. 87
The Visayas P. 88
Boracay P. 89
45) Cathedral Cave P. 89
46) Yapak P. 90
47) P. Bonga 1 & 2 P. 90
48) Friday’s Rock P. 91
49) Crocodile Isl. P. 91
50) Laurel Isl. 1 & 2 P. 92
51) Nasog P. 92
52) Dog Drift P. 93
BOHOL
Bohol P. 128
Anda P. 129
79) Panorama P. 131
80) Wonder Wall P. 131
81) The Caverns P. 132
82) Coco White
South & North P. 132
83) Snapper’s Cave P. 133
84) Dap Dap P. 133
85) Birhen E & W
House Reef P. 134
86) Neptune House P. 135
Cabilao P. 136
87) Gorgonian Wall P. 138
88) Lighthouse 2 P. 138
89) Lighthouse 1 P. 139
90) Fallen Tree P. 139
91) Pangangan Wall P. 140
92) Cambaquiz P. 140
93) South Point P. 141
Balicasag P. 142
94) Black Forest P. 142
95) Diver’s Heaven P. 143
Panglao P. 144
96) Napaling P. 145
97) Doljo SanctuaryP. 145
98) Doljo Point P. 146
99) Gak Ang P. 146
100) Tawala Sanc. P. 147
MINDANAO
PALAWAN
Palawan P. 156
Calamians P. 157
111) Club Paradise
House Reef P. 158
Calaiut Island P. 160
112) Dimipac Isl. P. 160
113) Kyokuzan M. P. 161
Apo Reef P. 162
114) Apo Reef Sites P. 162
Coron P. 164
Coron War History P. 165
115) Okikawa MaruP. 166
116) Akitsushima P. 167
117) Lusong Gunboat P. 167
118) Olympia Maru P. 168
119) Irako P. 168
120) Tangat Wreck P. 169
121) Tangat Gunboat P. 169
122) Black Island Wreck P. 170
El Nido P. 171
123) Dilumacad P. 172
124) Tres Marias P. 172
125) Miniloc Island P. 172
Tubbataha P. 173
126) Tubbataha North P. 174
127) Tubbataha South P. 176
Index P. 178
Medical Facilities
Recompression
Chambers P. 180
Inside Front/Back Covers:
Contacts for Philippine
Department of Tourism
Offices Worldwide
Source: Dive-Guide-to-the-Philippines-April-20-2016.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2CcgwP2YbQN8PP2EWfAFa1CZCPr2g66CQxFnuuhYSPyUrcGQqmEqjGVoI
Photo of Mt. Mayon, Luzon
Photo of Limestone cliffs, Coron
Photo of Snorkeling, Calamians
Photo of Anilao sunset (page-14)
Photo of Spicy peppers
Photo of Traditional dance, Manila (page-16)
Photo of Rice paddies, Bicol
Photo of Donsol kids 17
(Photo of Tricycle, Cebu 18)
Photo of Watermelon stand, Bohol
Photo of Busuanga (page-19)
Amun Ini, Anda
Vida Homes Condos, Dauin (page-20)
Photo of Puerto Galera
Photo of Cabilao sunrise 21
Photo of Fresh lechon (P-23)
Computer center, Donsol
Bahura pool (page-24)
Philippine Diving page-25
Photo of Thresher shark, Monad Shoal (page-26)
Photo of Giant frogfish
Photography
Apo Island
Rinse tank (page 29)
